Retort



Feb. 26, 1952 RETORT Filed June 26, 1948 E. H. RECORDS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INV OR ATTORNEY E. H. RECORDS RETORT 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 ung [AME/e H, PECQRDS WM rne/15v:-

Feb. 26, 1952 Filed June 26, 1948 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in retorts of those kinds designed for calcining and similar material treating operations. More particularly, the present invention has reference to improvements in retorts of the kind shown in United States Patent No. 2,385,731, issued to me on September 25, 1945, wherein I have described and illustrated a cylindrical retort supported above a firebox and combustion chamber in an inclined position for top end charging and lower end gravity unloading, and have associated therewith a certain arrangement of headers and pipes in the combustion chamber for the generation and superheating of steam for use in the operation.

It is the principal object of this invention to improve upon the apparatus of the above patent, especially in the means for effecting a more satisfactory distribution of heat to the retort cylinder or chamber throughout its full length.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for the directing of more or less of the hot gases of combustion against the superheater coils to increase or decrease the temperature of superheat as may be required or desired for the operation at hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus especially applicable for the treating of coal, having a retort chamber of elongated cylindrical form, supported at such an inclined position as to best adapt it for upper end charging and lower end gravity discharge, and with which chamber there is associated a novel arrangement of baflies whereby hot gases from the firebox and combustion chamber will be caused to flow in contact with top and bottom wall of the retort chamber, and in a manner whereby to obtain the most effective and most uniform calcining conditions in the retort.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a retort having the novel features above stated and including also two or more series of steam superheating coils, together with means whereby the flow of hot gases of. combustion may be directed against said coils in its entirety or by-passed to varying extent as a method of controlling the temperature of v the superheated steam.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for the admittance of steam into the retort chamber at its lower end for the calcining operation.

Still further objects of the invention are to be found in the details of construction of parts, in the combination and relationship of parts, and

in the mode of operation of the apparatus as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken in a vertical plane, of a retort embodying the im provements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of a part of the steam supply manifold at the lower end of the retort chamber.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As a matter of economy in operation, I prefer to employ retorts in pairs and so arranged that they may be heated and supplied with superheated steam from individual fireboxes in the same furnace structure, thus to provide that one unit may be emptied of its charge and then recharged while a charge in the other is under treatment. However, one or more retorts might be used as required or desired.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, 9-9 designates two coextensive and parallel cylindrical shells, each constituting a retort chamber. These shells, which are of sheet metal construction, are supported at an inclination of from 30 to 45, by a furnace frame structure which includes cross beams ll, l2 and 13 of I-beam form, supported horizontally by posts or uprights 15 for the support thereon of the retorts. The I-beams provide support for each retort at its lower end, at a medial point and at its upper end; suitable saddles, not herein shown, being applied to the beams to receive the cylindrical shells therein.

The furnace structure also includes for each retort, a firebox it these being enclosed by a front wall l8, a backwall l9, opposite side walls 20-40, and a partition wall 2| that separates the firebox and combustion chamber of one unit from that of the other unit so that each may, if desired, be used independently of the other.

Since the two units herein shown are alike in construction and mode of operation, only one will be described in detail, and it is to be understood that the description will apply equally to both.

It is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, that only the lower end half of the retort cylinder is disposed dileotly over the combustion chamber which conbetween fire bed and retort, is an opening 3|] leading into a chamber 3|, from which latter a flue 32 leads upwardly through the shell 25 to the annular space enclosed thereby about the upper end portion of the retort. In this flue is a damper 34 that may be adjusted to different positions by a handle 35 to control the outflow of hot gases through the flue.

A stack 36 leads from the top side of the shell 25 at its upper end as seen in Fig. 1.

Fixed to the opposite side walls of the cylindrical retort shell, and extending lengthwise thereof from near the higher end to near the lower end, are baiiles 38 38. These divide the annular space between retort cylinder 9 and shell 25 into upper and lower longitudinal passages, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2. Also. arranged at spaced intervals along the retort, transversely directed. and across the top side of its top wall, are baffles 39. Each of these bafiles extends through an arc of about 100, centered at the top of the shell, and leaves passages as at 4!! in Fig. 2, between its ends and the horizontal baffles 38.

Likewise, there are short, circumferentially directed bafiies 42 extending from the under side of the baffles 38-38, and aligned with the baffies 39. These provide an open passage 44 along the under side of the upper portion of the shell.

At near the lower end of the retort shell, a semi-circular baffle 45 is applied, even with and joined to the lower end portions of the baiiles 3838. as a means for dividing the upfiowing stream of hot gases from the firebox and combustion chamber, to direct one part to the longitudinal passage along the top of the retort, as defined by the baffles 3B38, and. another part to the passage along the lower part. In so directing the flow of hot gases. they are caused to flow along paths as indicated in the lines of arrows in Fig. 1 and thus to contact the shell over its entire surface and produce the most effective and uniform heating possible. The deflection of the gas streams, as effected by the baffles 39 and 42, is very effective for heating the entire top and bottom surface of the shell. The longitudinal baffles 38-38 prevent all heat, or a major part, from being concentrated along the top side of the shell, as otherwise would result.

It is anticipated that the outer shell shall be adequately insulated by a suitable insulating layer as has been indicated at 48 in Fig. 1.

The firebox is fired through a front wall opening 49 at level of grate 50. Located in the combustion chamber, that is, the upper portion of the firebox above the opening 30, are horizontally disposed super-heater pipe coils and a higher series of coils 5|. Steam is brought to the furnace from any suitable source of supply, not

herein shown, through a header 52 at the front of the furnace, passes through parallel coils 50 immediately above the level of wall opening 30, to a header 53 in the chamber 3| at the back of wall |9, then to a cross header 55 at high y level.

through pipe 55, and then back to coils 5|, and counter to the fiow of rising gases, to a header 58 at the front of the furnace from which it is led to its points of use, as presently explained.

In this type of operation, it is necessary to hold the temperature of superheated steam within close limits. Hence, if the furnace is fired heavy and the temperature of the steam rises above the critical temperature of the coils, it is necessary to reduce the amount of heated gases flowing upwardly against and through the coils. This is accomplished by closing the draft doors of the furnace and opening the damper 34 to allow part of the gases from the fire to flow out through passage 30, chamber 3| and duct 32 to the upper end portion of the retort through the annular space between the cylinder 9 and shell 25. More or less heat may thus be by-passed around the super-heater coils and temperature of superheat thus controlled.

The cylindrical retort 9 is provided upper and lower ends, respectively, with filling and unloading openings 68 and BI. These are closed by doors 62 and 63 which may be hingedly or otherwise suitably mounted. The retort chamher is charged through the upper end opening, and the charge should substantially fill the chamber.

Opening into the lower end of the shell at top side is a pipe ill for the admittance of saturated steam for quenching the charge upon completion of processing a charge, and at the upper end of the chamber is a blowoff pipe 1 Steam can be supplied to pipe Hi from pipe 52, or other source of supply, under control of a valve 12. The pipe H is equipped with valve 13.

Also at the upper end is a lead-oil pipe 14 with valve 14', through which distilled vapors are conducted to a condenser.

Admittance of superheated steam to the retort chamber for the treating and calcining of the charge is provided for through a pipe 15, entering the retort chamber at its lower end, and a pipe 16 that enters the retort at its bottom side about two-thirds of the distance from the lower to the upper ends of the chamber. Steam is supplied to pipes 15 and 16 from header 58, and is admitted under control of valves 1'! and 18 applied to pipes 15 and 16 respectively.

Superheater steam that is to be admitted to the lower end of the retort is discharged from pipe 15 under control of valve 19 into an annular manifold that partly surrounds the lower end opening of the shell, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The inner wall 8| of this manifold is formed with a plurality of sma l perforations 82 through which the steam is discharged into the chamber. It is preferred that the openings 82 be confined to that part of the wall that is above the level of the center of the chamber.

In starting the operation of the device for making charcoal or for the processing of a carbonaceous material, the lower end door 63 is first closed and locked, provision being made to suitably seal the outlet. The retort is then filled with material through the upper end opening 60 and the door 62 closed and sealed. The blow-01f valve 13 is closed and valve 12 of steam pipe 10 is closed. Vapor discharge valve 14' to pipe 14 leading to condensers is opened.

The furnace is then fired to bring the temperature of flue gases enveloping the inner shell and temperature of steam, admitted from outside source to header 52 into pipe coils 50 and 5|,

. up to desired Operating temperature of superheat,

as indicated by reading of indicator at 90. Steam is by-passed from pipe 15 until up to proper temperature and is' then admitted to the retort through manifold BI] and openings 82. Proper temperature is maintained by furnace on the gases and superheater for processing material in the retort. Distilled vapors are conducted through pipe 74 to condensers.

When vapors coming from pipe 14 have attained a certain predetermined temperature, depending on material treated, and the cycle of vapors evolved is completed, furnace heat is depressed and superheated steam is deflected from entering by closing valves at 11 and I8.

Blow-off valve 13 is then opened, vapor discharge valve 14' is closed, and saturated steam is admitted through pipe Hi, blowing steam through retort and blow-off valve 73 until temperature gauge indicates that temperature at center of the charge in the retort has been reduced to approximately the temperature of the saturated steam.

Doors 62 and 63 are then opened and the charge is unloaded into the quenching car. Door 63 is then closed and secured and the retort is ready for another charge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A retort of the character described comprising an elongated, cylindrical reaction chamber disposed in an inclined position for gravity unloading of a charge from its lower end, a shell enclosing said reaction chamber and providing an annular space between them, a stack outlet at the upper end of the shell, a furnace structure having a combustion chamber enclosing the lower end portion of the reaction chamber and shell therein, baffles extending along the reaction chamber at opposite sides and dividing the said annular space into separate gas passages along top and bottom sides of the reaction chamber, both of said passages having connection at their upper ends with-the stack outlet and both being open at their lower ends to receive gases directly thereinto from the combustion chamber; transverse baffles in the higher portions of said gas passages at spaced intervals therealong for diverting the upflowing gas streams against sides and bottom surfaces of the reaction chamber; said shell being open along its under side within the combustion chamber for direct heating of the lower end portion of the reaction chamber and to provide for fiow of hot gases to both of said gas passages-and a by-pass duct leading from the combustion chamber of the furnace at a point substantially below the opening of the latter to the gas passages, and into said annular space about the upper-end portion of the shell, and means for controlling the outflow of gases through said by-pass duct.

2. A retort as recited in claim 1 wherein the said bafiles terminate at their lower ends with the combustion chamber and spaced from the lower end of the reaction chamber and a bafile is applied transversely to and about the lower side of the reaction chamber even with the lower ends of said baffles to deflect part of the rising gases from the furnace into the lower end portion of the upper gas passage.

3. A retort as recited in claim 1 including also, super-heater coils located in the upper portion of the combustion chamber above the by-pass duct connection for heating by rising gases of combustion, means for supplying steam to said coils for superheating, and means for a controlled admittance of superheated steam from said coils into the reaction chamber.

ELMER H. RECORDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,618,566 Bergh Feb. 22, 1927 2,023,223 Gordon Dec. 3, 1935 2,131,058 Lucke Sept. 27, 1938 2,147,574 Duram Feb. 14, 1939 2,385,731 Records Sept. 25, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Fuel Economy of Boilers and Baffle Arrangements, Eager, J. of Am. Soc. M. E. Sept. 1918, pp. 1737-742. 

